Bipartisan bill aims to put an end to ticket scalping bots

(The Center Square) – Ticket bot operators could be in trouble under Michigan’s new Taylor Swift laws designed to combat ticket resale, as seen during the artist’s recent Eras tour.

House Bills 5661-5662 would allow the Attorney General’s Office to impose a $5,000 fine per ticket on anyone who violates ticket purchasing restrictions.

The bipartisan bill is co-sponsored by Reps. Graham Filler (R-Duplain Township) and Mike McFall (D-Hazel Park).

“This affects everyone who buys tickets,” McFall said.

“You’re a family, you go buy tickets and you can’t afford to buy the tickets because they’re now on a resale site at a much higher price that’s often unaffordable for families.”

After passing the House Regulatory Reform Committee, the bills will now be presented to the full House of Representatives.

If passed, the package will follow the example of recent Arizona legislation signed by Governor Katie Hobbs in April.

“The goal is to end these unfair practices and ensure tickets are accessible and affordable for everyone in Michigan,” Filler said.

“Our plan is a necessary step toward fairness and transparency, ensuring people have access to the events they love without being ripped off. By making our state more event-friendly, we can also boost tourism and attract more people to our festivals and events, ultimately strengthening our economy.”

While Ticketmaster has apologized for the black market issue that occurred last year, questions remain about the extent to which measures have been taken to prevent future incidents like the Eras Tour, where tickets were largely sold out in minutes by resale bots.

“We must put an end to the exploitation and greed that have plagued ticket sales for far too long,” Filler said.

“Our plan goes straight to the heart of these unscrupulous ticket bots that are robbing fans of the chance to see their favorite artists and driving up prices to outrageous heights.”